Friday, December 23, 2011

A FREEZING COLD DAY HAS US DREAMING OF WARMER CLIMATES

IT WAS SO COLD IN DOUGLAS ARIZONA TODAY EVEN THE COWBOY CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS WERE BUNDLED UP AGAINST THE WEATHER

Ohhhh, how the miserable icy wind did rifle itself down the Sulphur Springs Valley today. It was narry a day fit for man or beast as we watched snow clouds touch down on the Valley floor. With night time temperatures already below freezing the winds just added insult to injury today by driving the temps ever further downward right into the dungeon!!

KELLY BRAVED THE COLD TO TAKE THE GANG FOR A WALK….I STAYED IN THE RIG WITH AN ELECTRIC HEATER STUFFED IN MY SHORTS

Don’t think we even thought about getting out of our jammies until well after 9. I was late getting the chores done and didn’t waste any time outside. Pheebs brought Pearce and Gleeson back to the rig for a game of toys after breakfast.

PHEEBS IS ALWAYS PLAYING THE CLOWN

About 11 we braced ourselves for a cold dash to the Jeep and headed ourselves on down to Douglas with heater on full blasters. (not the one in my shorts) There were sun splashes on the mountains and with the snow clouds moving through the Valley it was very pretty. Rolling into Douglas we drove into a mild snow cloud.

CAN’T SEE IT BUT THERE IS SNOW IN THE AIR AS WE ROLL INTO DOUGLAS ARIZONA

Walmart was busy so it took a big extra dose of patience on my part navigating our cart around hurried Christmas shoppers. We didn’t need a lot of things but just wanted to make sure we didn’t run out of anything over the next couple days. The parking lot was like a game of bumper cars but we managed to safely maneuver ourselves through the metal maze and point our nose back up the Valley highway out of town. Driving anywhere around here any time in any conditions is always scenic:))

I ACTUALLY FELT A SPURT OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT SEEING A BIT OF SNOW IN THE AIR AS WE MADE OUR WAY INTO WALMART

Boondocker Rick over on Darby Wells had told me of a book I might like so we headed for the Elfrida Library because we knew the book was in. ‘Blood And Thunder’ by Hampton Sides…..An Epic Of The American West.

KELLY MAKES HERE WAY INTO THE COLD WIND ON HER WAY BACK TO THE JEEP FROM A DOUGLAS STORE

Quick stop at my favorite little western gas station in Elfrida for a fill up & then on to the library. Grabbed the book and made some mighty fast tracks back to our warm & toasty Motorhome at the Ranch. Lots of happy wagging tails to greet us.

THESE CHRISTMAS GRILL WREATHS ARE POPULAR THIS YEAR

Did the afternoon chores on the early side so I wouldn’t have to go back outside again and that was just about it for our Canadian like winter day. I may not like this cold weather one bit but it sure beats sitting at home in frightfully cold weather and snow up to our Keisters. At least here we do not have to shovel or drive in the miserable snow stuff!!

Had a question about the Sand Hill Cranes….Yes, the Cranes are here all winter. It is their winter quarters until they begin making their way north again in March. Bob had a question about our hook-ups here at the Ranch. We have full free hook-ups (30 amp) including on site sewer. And, we get to eat all the eggs we gather from the chickens. We are averaging 2 eggs a day right now:))

I liked the Santa hats on Tucker and Lily in E & R'S TRAVELS. They are under the Christmas tree waiting for Santa:)) In a few days they will be happily on their way with Mom & Dad to Myrtle Beach where they will exchange their Santa Hats for New Year’s Eve party hats:))

Also heading for Florida shortly are Montana Rancher’s JANNA AND MIKE. Hopefully Mike can keep the snow drifts plowed out of their driveway enough to get their Motorhome rolling. Crank up the rig’s heater folks.

Another Snow Bird couple has opted to fly back north for a few days preferring to spend Christmas at home with family. Canadian Ranchers JOHN & BRENDA flew home to Dogpound North, but I don’t think they flew their Dogpound South Maricopa horses home:)) Thanks for the invite to Dogpound South J & B. One of these days we’ll get ourselves up around your way:))

Nice composition on BARNEY'S header photo and despite the big winds trying to blow JUDY & EMMA off the Planet she managed to get herself some nice bird photos. And, how about this great gift at Christmas time. RETIRED ROD was greatly relieved to wake up Thursday and not find himself dead after yet another round of serious surgery. IVAN AND HAILEY have finally made it to warm and sunny California after digging themselves out of an Alberta winter a week or so ago.

These repeatedly colder southwestern winters sure have us thinking about warmer southern climates these days. No, not Mexico…………………..

AWWWW, IT’S A DOG’S LIFE:))

GROANER’S CORNER:(( A couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position. As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the wife sarcastically asked, "Relatives of yours?" "Yep," the husband replied, "In-laws."

-------------------------------------------------------------- -Tourists see the world, travelers experience it. - Home is where your pet is:)) BAYFIELD BUNCH PHOTO ALBUMS https://picasaweb.google.com/117858411710794543295The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

13 comments:

We are in a deep freeze here too..Thoughts of Florida buzzing around in our heads, but not this year...Hope you get warmer next week..Looks like we will be in the mid to upper 60's,and that's fine with us! Merry Xmas to you and Kelly, plus the furry kids...Stay warm and safe..and in good health!

Hmm let me try this comment again. My husband is from a ranch in the Elfrida area and is always telling me stories about his boyhood life and horseback and roundin cattle. He sure is homesick; today I googled Elfrida and fell upon your Blog, very entertaining I might say. If you are in the area of Rafter X Ranch http://www.hebbardandwebb.com/rafterx.html sure would be nice to see some more pictures of the old home.Sam & Jakeps Im also doing some family history on the families of Sulpher Springs Valley area; his GGGrandfather was from Canada too :)

Merry Christmas to you and Kelly and all of the 'fur babies'! Oh, put on an extra pair of longjohns and socks... you'll withstand that northern wind that has blown in to say 'hi, ya all'... keep warm and stay away from Wally World. That place is a zoo with no keeper this time of the year! Kelly's pic with the snowflakes surrounding her is a keeper!

AL'S CAMERA EQUIPMENT

A sometimes asked question readers have about my blog is what kind of a camera do I use. Well I have 8 of them and use them all. Five Nikon DSLR's, two quality Sony point and shoots plus one older Canon point and shoot.

'UPDATE':: July 2017 Thanks to a very generous blog reader I have been able to update my Nikon camera equipment and supplement my camera gear with a couple additional fine Sony cameras as well.I now have a 'donated' Nikon D7200 sporting my new Nikkor 18-300 3.5 zoom lens. Also have picked up a new Nikkor 1.8 primary 35mm lens. In addition I also now have a Sony RX100-3 camera as well as a Sony Exmore Cybershot. I have given my Canon Powershot point and shoot camera to a neighbor.

- In early 2017 I replaced my Nikon D-90 camera with a new D-3400 after the 'auto focus' feature on my aging D-90 quit working. The Nikon D-90 had been my work horse camera sporting a Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens. I used this camera for most of my landscapes and I now have it set up for night photography where 'auto focus' is not necessary.

-My older faithful and favorite Nikon D-40 finally packed it in during the summer of 2015 and I replaced it with a new Nikon D-3100.

- Previous to my Nikon D-90, most of my photos were taken with my old faithful Nikon D-50 from 2006 to early 2011 whereupon the D-50 suffered a rather gruesome death when it fell off a table onto a cement porch in southeastern Arizona. The 70-300mm lens on the camera survived the fall but the D-50 did not. My Nikkor lenses are interchangable between the D-90 the D-3100 and the D-3400.